PRIMaRE - News
New photos taken at the Wave Hub site
These images were taken by Dr Matthew Witt whilst carrying out a biodiversity survey on Monday 2 August at the Wave Hub site offshore North Cornwall.
The work was carried out during excellent weather conditions and the team saw the greatest diversity of birds on any trip to date, also basking sharks, jelly fish and common dolphins. There was lots happening on in the south west corner of Wave Hub, even a breaching basking shark (although the team didn't get a photo).
01. One of a small aggregation of compass jellyfish in the South West corner of Wave hub
02. Herring gull takes a rest on the Ann Kathleen while at Wave Hub
03. Raft of shearwaters take to the air
04. Puffin seen in the South West corner of Wave Hub
05. Adult and juvenile common dolphin at Wave Hub
06. One of four common dolphins in the South West corner of Wave Hub
07. Two basking sharks swimming nose to tail in South West corner of Wave Hub
08. Fulmar at Wave Hub
For more photos of the Wave Hub site visit our Facebook page.
Wave Hub cable laying operation gets under way
Installation of the South West RDA’s (Regional Development Agency) pioneering Wave Hub marine energy project gets under way tomorrow [Monday August 2] with the start of the cable laying operation.
Wave Hub is creating the world’s largest test site for wave energy technology by building a grid-connected socket on the seabed, 16 kilometres off the coast of Cornwall in South West England, to which wave power devices can be connected and their performance evaluated.
The £42 million project has been developed by the South West RDA and is a cornerstone of its strategy to develop a world class marine energy industry in South West England.
Wave Hub will be connected to the shore via a 25km, 1,300-tonne subsea cable that will be laid from the beach at Hayle, on the north Cornwall coast, out to the Wave Hub site by the cable laying ship Nordica.
The 33,000 volt cable has been manufactured in one continuous length and is made up of six copper cores, 48 fibre optic cables, two layers of steel wire armouring and an outer polymer sheath. It is 16 centimetres in diameter.
Monday’s operation involves floating the end of the cable ashore from the Nordica, which will be stationed two kilometres offshore, and winching it to the top of the beach to a pre-constructed pit where it will be joined to onshore cables connected to a new electricity substation.
Read the full South West RDA press release
Marine energy firms receive funding boost
Green energy firms in the Westcountry have won a share of £7 million to develop wave and tidal technologies of the future.
The winners have been announced by the Technology Strategy Board which has been working with the South West Regional Development Agency (RDA) to manage the competition because of the agency's ongoing work to develop marine renewables and the strength of the sector in the South West.
Full news article
Minister announces further investment in marine renewables
during wave hub visit
Business and Enterprise Minister Mark Prisk has today announced a £1.5 million investment in the development of wave energy technology during a visit to the South West RDA’s Wave Hub project at Hayle.
Mr Prisk, who kicked off a two‐day tour of Cornwall, said the additional £1.5 million grant from the RDA would allow wave energy company Ocean Power Technologies Ltd (OPT) to develop a larger version of its ‘Powerbuoy’ wave energy device.
It follows an announcement by the Government‐backed Technology Strategy Board last week of a £7 million investment in nine projects aimed at developing wave and tidal technologies of the future.
OPT is the first company signed up to use Wave Hub, which is a £42 million project to create the world’s largest test site for wave energy technology, off the north coast of Cornwall.
Wave Hub is being installed on the seabed over the course of the next few weeks and is a cornerstone of the UK’s ambition to grow a world‐class marine energy industry.
Read the full South West RDA press release
Wave hub sets sail for Cornish test site
Wave Hub, the South West RDA’s (Regional Development Agency) pioneering marine energy project, set sail for Cornwall overnight [17:00 Monday, July 26] in preparation for installation next week on the seabed 16 kilometres offshore.
Wave Hub is creating the world’s largest test site for wave energy technology by building a grid-connected socket on the seabed off the coast of Cornwall, to which wave power devices can be connected and their performance evaluated.
The £42 million project has been developed by the South West RDA and is a cornerstone of its strategy to develop a world class marine energy industry in South West England.
Read the full South West RDA press release
Acoustic Monitoring Equipment Photos
Taken by Dr Matthew Witt who went out to deply the PRIMaRE Acoustic Monitoring Equipment on Tuesday 20 July 2010. This was the commissioning deployment for the equipment and will last about 2 weeks. Once the commissioning deployment goes well, the equipment will be moved to the Wave Hub site in the late Autumn.
Clockwise from top left:
01. PRIMaRE Acoustic Monitoring Equipment attached to a specialist frame for deployment on the seabed. Each frame supports an acoustic monitoring station (AMAR) from Jasco Applied Sciences, a C-Pod for the detection of dolphins and porpoises from Chelonia Ltd, a Conductivity-Temperature-Density probe and an emergency relocation pinger with pop-up buoy system.
02. Equipment frame with it's yellow protective domed shield in place. The equipment is on board the vessel Grey Bear, operated by FD Marine.
03. Acoustic equipment being lowered on to the seabed in Falmouth Harbour.
04. Picture of the Grey Bear work boat with Falmouth in the distance following deployment of the acoustic monitoring equipment.
RV Falcon Spirit Naming Ceremony
The name of the vessel is the RV Falcon Spirit reflecting the name Robert Falcon Scott - the Plymouth naval officer and polar explorer who left on his final voyage to the South Pole one hundred years ago this year.
Dr Emma Sheehan meets the BBC Countryfile Team
Dr Emma Sheehan with John Craven and the BBC Countryfile team in Lyme Regis, to report on how the Lyme Bay reefs are recovering since an exclusion zone was instigated for scallop dredging and bottom towed gear in July 2008’
Dr Sheehan tests PRIMaRE bought equipment here and treats it as an inshore ‘sheltered’ test site for Wave Hub.
New Building & Wave Tanks for Marine Institute
Site preparation works have started for the new Marine Building at the University of Plymouth, which will house the new PRIMaRE wave tank testing facilities. These will comprise:
- An ocean wave basin, 35 m long x 15.5 m wide x 3 m deep, operable at different depths and incorporating 2.0m hinge depth wavemakers and recirculating current both inline and across the waves
- A coastal basin, 15 m long x 10 m wide x 0.5 m deep, incorporating moveable modular piston wavemakers and recirculating current
- A sediment wave flume, 35 m long x 0.6 m wide x 0.8 m deep
The main construction work will begin in the autumn and the new facilities will be available from early 2012.
Wave Hub General manager Guy Lavender ready for cable load out in Hartlepool, UK
The latest stage of the South West Regional Development Agency Wave Hub Project is underway as the hub and cable are loaded onto a ship directly from the JDR Cable Systems factory in Hartlepool. Guy Lavender, the RDA's Wave Hub general manager, is pictured with the hub and cable which weighs 1,300 tonnes and cost £7m to make.
Acoustic Monitoring Pictures
A selection of images taken at the beginning of July by Dr Matthew Witt. These are photographs of at-sea tests of the PRIMaRE sound recording hardware that will be deployed at Wave Hub in the late Summer.
Left:Pinger-assisted relocation system should pop-up buoy fail
Right: Acoustic monitoring dome being lowered on to Ann Kathleen
Left:Pop-up buoy succesfully reaches surface
Right:ROV deployed to locate dome on seabed and practice emergency retrieval protocol
Left: Acoustic monitoring dome on seabed
Right:ROV and surface monitoring equipment
Wave Hub Goes Ahead
Work on the world's largest wave farm off the coast of Hayle is to go ahead as planned.
An independent economic impact assessment has calculated the Wave Hub could create 1,800 jobs and inject £560m in the UK economy over 25 years.
15 July 2010
Collaboration to Win in Offshore Renewables
We recently held a successful event at the Future Inn, Plymouth for the
South West’s leading marine research institute, industrialists and
support agencies for a unique event to explore the commercial potential
of Offshore Renewable Energy.
Photos from our event and presentations are now available online - to download the presentations please visit our events page.
To view the full selection of the photos taken at the event please visit our Facebook Page.
Check out the new ROV
Photograph below is of the new £300,000 ROV on board Falcon Spirit.
Video Taken Using the ROV
Exeter ROV operating from Ann Kathleen. It shows a section showing the dome just as it settles on to the seabed. The grey thing protruding slightly from the dome surface is the pop-up buoy system and the rope disappearing up to the surface is a safety line as we were testing the pop-up buoy.
These photographs were taken at and around the Wave Hub site.
Clockwise from top left: Basking shark at Porthgwarra, Black-backed gull off Lands End, Herring gul at Runnel Stone Buoy, Moon jellyfish at Wave Hub.
Clockwise from top left: Ganet, Herring gul in flight, Razorbill with mouth full of sandeels, Gannet at Runnel Stone Buoy.
A selection of photos provided by Dr Emma Sheehan
Seal, picture taken on offshore rocks on the north coast of Cornwall. These two pictures were taken while doing the annual seal census.
Red Gurnard, taken during preliminary fish sampling work at the Wave Hub area
Puffin picture taken at Sennen Cove from the boat (Ann Kathleen) by Dr Matthew Witt on his way round to Wave Hub site from Newlyn
Dolphin at Wave hub site.
Pod deployment equipment on deck
Find out more regarding SuperGen Marine
17 June 2010
PRIMaRE’s entry into the Renewable Energy Association’s Marine Renewables Innovation Showcase at Seawork 2010, the South West Moorings Test Facility (SWMTF) was highly commended by the judges (Neil Kermode M.D. of EMEC, Alan Banks of Envirobusiness and Prof. John Sharp of Cranfield)
Speaking on behalf of PRIMaRE Leo McLeman, Research & Knowledge Transfer Manager answered many questions on the technical details and how PRIMaRE’s efforts in this area will accelerate device development. The overall winners were Aquamarine.
17 June 2010
Construction of Wave Hub ‘beach pit’ gets underway
Full article by South West RDA
17 June 2010
Excavations start on Cornwall's pioneering Wave Hub project
Contractors are digging a pit on Hayle beach, West Cornwall, to house a connecting block to join Wave Hub's offshore cable with onshore cables linked to a new electricity substation.
Read the full article on the excavation project here.
17 June 2010
PRIMaRE Boat Launch - Falcon Spirit at Southampton
10 June 2010
PRIMaRE Boat Launch - 'Before' Launch Photos
A selection of three shots taken of Falcon Spirit before logos are added. The Falcon Spirit will be officially launched next week at the Sea Works Exhibition in Southampton. Further information about the PRIMaRE boat launch and Seaworks.
Falcon Spirit Port Profile
Falcon Spirit Port Quarter Shot
Falcon Spirit Stern View
03 June 2010
Wavehub Cable Film by SouthWestRDA
03 June 2010
All-Energy Conference 2010 Photos
For more All-Energy photos please visit our Facebook page
Dr Lar Johanning who presented at this years All-Energy
Leo McLeman and Neil Crudgington at the PRIMaRE stand at All-Energy 2010
The PRIMaRE stand at All-Energy 2010
28 May 2010
University of Exeter offers BSC/MEng Renewable Energy degree
This degree offered by Exeter University was one of the first of it's kind in the UK when launched. For further information about the programme, please contact:-
Programme enquiries
Dr Peter Connor
Email: p.m.connor@exeter.ac.uk
Web: www.exeter.ac.uk/csm
University of Plymouth now offering a new MSc Marine Renewable Energy and MRes Marine Renewable Energy
Duration: one year full time
THINKING OF A CAREER IN MARINE RENEWABLE ENERGY?The MSc/MRes Marine Renewable Energy provides a gateway into careers in the growing marine renewables sector by providing a broad background with the opportunity to specialise in environmental, engineering or socio-economic aspects. Graduates will be well-qualified,not just for careers in the marine renewables sector, but also for careers in the broader renewables and marine environmental consultancy fields.
For further information contact:
Postgraduate Admissions
Faculty of Science and Technology
University of Plymouth
Drake Circus
Plymouth
PL4 8AA
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)1752 584 584
Email: science.technology@plymouth.ac.uk
UK’s leading energy experts gather in Falmouth Following the success of last year’s energy conference the University of Exeter will be staging another world-class event in Falmouth on 24 and 25 May.
The conference, ‘The Low Carbon Transition Plan: Pathways to Change’ will play host to some of the highest profile speakers ever gathered at a public conference on energy policy in the South West.
The UK’s strategy for achieving 80% cuts in carbon dioxide emissions by 2050 has been set out in a Low Carbon Transition Plan, and energy production and use will play the key role in its delivery. The conference has a strong emphasis on networking, and will provide a forum to identify and discuss key issues for energy systems arising from the Plan, and identify solutions to ensure the strategy delivers on its aims. It will discuss the UK’s energy policy and how best to approach the transformation required to move towards sustainable energy systems. Workshops will get to grips with topics such as financing the transition, energy security and the role of communities. Delegates from all sectors are invited, with strong representation expected from industry, non-governmental organisations, academia and regional government.
Speakers will be headlined by Jonathon Brearley, Director of Energy Strategy and Futures at the Department of Energy and Climate Change. He will be joined at the opening session by Professor Jim Skea OBE, the Head of the UK Energy Research Centre, a Member of the Climate Change Committee and the board of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Also speaking are Damian Carrington, Head of Environment at the Guardian, Gordon Mackerron, Director of the Sussex Energy Group and Steve Cirell, Programme Director for Green Cornwall.
The conference will be chaired by Professor Catherine Mitchell, head of the Energy Policy Group at the University of Exeter and a co-ordinating lead author for the IPCC. She has amongst other things been a member of the UK Government’s Energy Advisory Panel, an international advisor to the New Zealand Governments Energy Review in 2006-7 and worked in the UK Cabinet Office on the 2002 Energy Review . She is currently responsible for policy and regulation within the supply theme of the UK Energy Research Centres Phase 2 and is leading a research council funded research network on Energy Security in a Multipolar World She frequently advises national and international NGOs and other institutions on energy-related issues.
Professor Catherine Mitchell said: “It’s great that Cornwall can attract such a diverse and high profile set of speakers from all over Britain, including Cornwall. The transformation of our energy systems, whether at a local, regional or national level, is fundamental to delivering on our climate change commitments and I’m really looking forward to discussing the key issues with some of the most important decision makers about energy from within the region and nationally.”
Further reading on UK's leading energy experts gather in Falmouth
The South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) has announced the appointment of CTC Marine Projects as offshore contractor for the Wave Hub marine energy project.
CTC Marine, which is part of the global Trico Marine Group headquarted in Texas, will handle the load out and installation of Wave Hub’s 25km armoured subsea cable, and the deployment of the hub itself on the seabed in 50m of water. The £7M contract was awarded following a competitive tender and was announced at today’s (May 19) All Energy exhibition and conference in Aberdeen. Wave Hub is creating the world’s largest test site for wave energy technology by building a grid-connected socket on the seabed, 16km off the coast of Cornwall, to which wave power devices can be connected and their performance evaluated.
Wave Hub on course for Summer deployment
Wave Hub, the pioneering marine energy project, is on course to be deployed this summer with fabrication of sub-sea cables and the hub itself nearing completion.Wave Hub will create the world’s largest test site for wave energy technology by building a grid-connected socket on the seabed, 10 miles off the coast of Cornwall, to which wave power devices can be connected and their performance evaluated.
May 2010 A brief video on the Wave Hub's initial shoreside works taking place at the Wave Hub site in Hayle, Cornwall
May 2010
Bowtech Products Limited, Surveyor HD Footage
This clip was filmed by the University of Plymouth, School of Marine Science and Engineering. They were performing a marine fauna survey of a proposed wave hub site.
They have very kindly allowed Bowtech to use this clip as an example of footage achievable from our Surveyor HD camera. This camera had 3 of our LED-1600 lights mounted with it to give ample light.
This was filmed at around 55m depth off the North coast of Cornwall, England
May 2010 Dr Daniel Conley & Dr Phil Hosegood to Convene Session on "Ocean Science in Support of Marine Renewable Energy" Daniel Conley and Phil Hosegood are convening a session on "Ocean Science in Support of Marine Renewable Energy" at the European Geosciences Union (EGU) 2010 General Assembly which takes place in Vienna Austria from 02-07 May. The session includes oral and poster presentations and the session description follows. In order to meet local, national and international CO2 emission targets, Marine Renewable Energy will need to rapidly move through the demonstrator phase to the viable technology stage. Ocean Science has a large role to play in this development with contributions ranging from resource assessment, site characterization, installation planning and impact monitoring. This session seeks contributions from researchers of all disciplines with interest in oceanographic applications to the development of Marine Renewable Energy. We especially welcome contributions from projects either in pilot study or fully operational phase which relate to observational methodologies or results that demonstrate the impact of existing sites on physical processes and the biological system. 31 March 2010
Nick Clegg visits renewable energy lab
Leader of the Liberal Democrats Nick Clegg toured the University of Exeter’s Renewable Energy laboratory on Wednesday 31 March.
Staff and students introduced him to the latest research taking place at the University, including studies on marine renewable energy carried out through the Peninsula Research Institute for Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE).
He also heard about the University’s ambitions to develop a world-class Environment and Sustainability Institute on the Cornwall Campus.
Nick Clegg said: “I am very excited by all that’s happening here, by your future ambitions and your plans for expansion. If you can combine the benefits of green energy, University research and the economic regeneration of a region then I think you have a match made in Heaven for Cornwall.”
Nick Clegg was joined by Terrye Teverson, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Truro and Falmouth, who added: “The key thing for Cornwall is that we raise the average wages in the county. These emerging skills will be vital to us achieving that aim and benefiting the Cornish economy.”
Located on the University’s Cornwall Campus, the Renewable Energy laboratory is part of Camborne School of Mines. In 2003 the University of Exeter launched the UK’s first undergraduate renewable energy degree, which now produces around 30 graduates a year. Those graduates enjoy a 90% success rate in gaining employment in the renewable energy industry or in going onto further study. The University began its involvement with renewable energy research and development with its ground breaking ‘hot-dry-rocks’ project but over the past three years has expanded to cover a broader portfolio of renewable energy topics, key areas being: marine renewables, bio-fuels, electrical power and networks, distributed generation and the effects of climate change, wind, photo-voltaic and thermal technologies.
(PRIMaRE) is a joint £15 million institute for research into harnessing the energy from the sea, bringing together the technology and marine expertise of the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth. Its team of world-class academic staff and researchers is dedicated to the support and development of the marine renewable energy sector. The South West RDA and the ERDF Convergence and Competitiveness Programmes are providing the investment for the PRIMaRE venture, whose mission is to become a centre of excellence in marine renewable energy through the delivery of research and technology transfer to business.
January 2010 19 February 2010 What’s the future for Wave Hub and how will marine renewable energy affect our coastline and fisheries? These issues will be explored as leading University of Plymouth experts offer a fascinating insight into their research next week. ‘Wind, Waves and Energy’, the University of Plymouth Marine Institute’s Spring Term Public Event will include keynote talks from University experts in marine engineering, coastal dynamics modelling and ecological economics. Peninsula Research Institute for Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE) staff based at the University, Dr Deborah Greaves and Dr Daniel Conley, will discuss the future of the Wave Hub and the potential physical changes to the coastal zone caused by marine renewable installations as well as strategies to monitor and detect these changes. Meanwhile, Dr Lynda Rodwell will share research focussed on the economic impacts of windfarms on fisheries and the social values associated with the marine environment which may be affected by wind farm development. Professor Martin Attrill, Director of the University of Plymouth Marine Institute said; “Our research is at the forefront of investigating the impacts of this emerging technology on the marine environment, as this remains an important issue that is not yet fully understood. “The University of Plymouth’s Marine Institute is heavily involved in various marine renewable energy projects including the Wave Hub, so this is an ideal opportunity to learn firsthand about the pioneering research being conducted here in Plymouth – and what marine renewable energy holds for our future.” The event will close with a Q&A session followed by a wine and cheese reception. Tuesday 23 February 2010, 6.30-8pm, Devonport Lecture Theatre, Portland Square Building and admission is FREE. 19 February 2010 A team from the University of Exeter’s Tremough Campus, Penryn, has designed a unique facility that will help deliver reliability and risk control for wave energy device developers, investors and insurance companies. The first of its kind in the world, the Dynamic Marine Component Test Facility (DMAC) will support the Peninsula Research Institute for Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE) team in conducting research into the feasibility of marine renewable energy in the South West. DMAC will allow wave energy device developers to identify potential engineering problems and refine their designs more specifically and quicker than has been possible so far. DMAC is now being built by Somerset-based company Event Horizon Ltd. The twelve-tonne device will be moved to the Tremough Campus in late summer 2010. PRIMaRE is a joint £15 million institute for research into harnessing the energy from the sea, bringing together the technology and marine expertise of the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth. Its team of world-class academic staff and researchers is dedicated to the support and development of the marine renewable energy sector. The South West RDA and the ERDF Convergence and Competitiveness Programmes are providing the investment for the PRIMaRE venture, whose mission is to become a centre of excellence in marine renewable energy through the delivery of research and technology transfer to business. Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Convergence Partnership Office said: “The research and innovation of PRIMaRE alongside the construction of the Wave Hub’s ‘socket on the seabed’ will help develop a strong supply chain in this new area of the economy for new and existing businesses in Cornwall. The ERDF Convergence programme’s over £4million of investment in PRIMaRE and its £20million investment in the Wave Hub are part of our commitment to exploiting the economic opportunities of a lower carbon economy.” Claire Gibson, Director of Sustainable Resources at the South West RDA (Regional Development Agency), which is investing £7.3 million in PRIMaRE over three years, said: “This new facility is another addition to the marine renewables research base we are building in South West England as part of our strategy to become a global centre of expertise for harnessing the power from the sea and one of the best places in the world to set up a low carbon business.” DMAC is a unique resource for the emerging marine renewable energy industry in the South West. Building on the data generated by the South West Moorings Test Facility (SWMTF) buoy, which is located off the south coast of Cornwall, DMAC will be able to replicate the motions and forces experienced by components of wave energy conversion devices. In order to establish marine renewable energy in the region, a broad knowledge base of marine components performance needs to be developed. The device will work alongside the South Western Mooring Test Facility (SWMTF) buoy, also developed by the University of Exeter team. Moored off the coast of Falmouth, South Cornwall, the SWMTF gathers detailed information on marine conditions. Sea conditions measured by the SWMTF can be replicated to identify failure rates by applying accelerated testing. This accelerated testing will allow the researchers to assess the expected lifetime of the component and quickly identify any design weaknesses. Dr Lars Johanning, a senior lecturer in Renewable Energy and leader of the PRIMaRE Marine Operation group at the University of Exeter said: “This is a major milestone in PRIMaRE’s research and we are excited about the potential the DMAC will have in testing marine energy device components. This project has been awarded to Event Horizon Ltd, a company based in Somerset, which highlights our commitment to support regional businesses. The implementation of this £535,000 project will be challenging but we are looking forward announcing the completion of the DMAC and the first test results this autumn.” Dr Sue Brownlow, Combined Universities in Cornwall Director added: “In an emerging field like marine renewable energy, access to test facilities such as the DMAC can be a major draw for knowledge based businesses. Benefitting from the research strengths of the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth, PRIMaRE is a tremendous resource for the whole region, and is creating particular opportunities for Cornwall, building on the investment made in university education in the county in recent years. Through pioneering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in the county, particularly the University of Plymouth accredited Foundation Degree in Renewable Energy Technologies, run by Cornwall College, and University of Exeter’s Renewable Energy degree programmes, Cornwall is also developing the skills base to support a growing renewable energy industry. ” 23 December 2009 Business professionals and researchers will gather in Cornwall on 8 January to identify opportunities to get involved with developing wave and tidal energy in the South West. The Peninsula Research Institute for Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE) Annual Research Conference will enable businesses and academics to collaborate on developing and testing marine renewable energy technology. Hosted by the University of Exeter, the conference will be held at the Tremough Campus, Penryn. PRIMaRE is a joint £15 million institute for research into harnessing the energy from the sea, bringing together the technology and marine expertise of the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth. Its team of world-class academic staff and researchers is dedicated to the support and development of the marine renewable energy sector. PRIMaRE supports and complements the South West RDA's pioneering £42 million Wave Hub project, which will create the world's largest wave energy test site 10 miles off the Cornish coast. The conference will give the region’s businesses and academic researchers the latest news from PRIMaRE and will also explore opportunities for working together on the next stages of the project. Dr Dean Millar of the University of Exeter said: “This event will be a great opportunity for everyone who has been involved with PRIMaRE so far to assess what we have achieved so far and what challenges lie ahead. We also hope that businesses will find exciting opportunities to collaborate with us over the coming months. We are proud to be hosting this event on our Cornwall Campus, where our renewable energy team is developing and testing the very latest marine energy technologies.” Dr Sue Brownlow, Combined Universities in Cornwall Director, said: "This conference is a splendid example of how the expansion of university education is creating new opportunities for business in Cornwall. By combining the strengths of the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth, both partners in the Combined Universities in Cornwall initiative, PRIMaRE has the research muscle to underpin an internationally excellent marine renewables industry in the region." The £100 million Tremough Campus is a Combined Universities in Cornwall initiative of which the University of Exeter and University College Falmouth are two of the founding partners. It is funded mainly by the European Union (Objective One), the South West Regional Development Agency, and the Higher Education Funding Council for England, with support from Cornwall County Council. Set in 70 acres of countryside, but close to the waterside towns of Penryn and Falmouth, the campus offers a lively student community. The University of Exeter now offers degrees in Biology, Modern Celtic and Cornish Studies, English, Geology, Geography, History, Law, Mining Engineering, Politics and Renewable Energy on its Tremough Campus, which has expanded rapidly as part of the Combined Universities in Cornwall initiative. 29 October 2009 Further boost to South West marine energy research The South West’s ambition to be a global centre for marine energy research has received a further boost with a £1.2 million investment in a new wave tank testing facility. The wave tanks are being funded by the South West RDA (Regional Development Agency) as part of the Agency’s three-year £7.3 million investment in the Peninsula Research Institute for Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE), and will be located at the University of Plymouth. The facility will be unique in the UK because it will allow model testing in both multi-directional waves and variable direction currents, and will also be able to model shallow and deep water conditions. It will enable the testing of scale models of wave and tidal energy devices individually and in arrays. PRIMaRE is a £12.6 million project set up two years ago by the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth, with funding from the South West RDA. It boasts 15 world-class academic staff and 60 researchers dedicated to the support and development of the marine renewable energy sector. PRIMaRE, and the wave tank facility, support and complement the South West RDA's pioneering £42 million Wave Hub project, which will create the world's largest wave energy test site 10 miles of the Cornish coast and will be commissioned next year. The investment has been welcomed by Business Minister Lord Drayson who said: “Thiswave tank will play to the UK's strengths - science, engineering, waves and tides - to help usestablish a global lead in developing the technologies necessary to produce this renewable energy supply. Wave technologywill be key to future of energy generation andthe South West, the UK's first Low Carbon Economic Area,has the potential andexpertise to make this happen." Jonny Boston, the South West RDA’s Offshore Renewable Energy Manager, said: “This new laboratory will be a first in the UK and will offer the marine renewables industry a state of the art test facility backed by the considerable academic and research expertise of PRIMaRE. It is the latest step in our ambition to be a global centre for marine energy research.” Dr Deborah Greaves, Reader in Coastal and Marine Engineering at the University of Plymouth and one of the lead academics at PRIMaRE, said: “The proposed new wave tank testing facility is already generating quite a stir in the marine renewables industry because of the full range of testing that it will offer. Not only can we test the performance of wave and tidal devices, but we can also model how these devices might impact on coastal conditions.” The main wave tank at the facility will measure 35 metres by 15 metres and be 2 metres deep. It is expected to be completed in early 2012. September 2009 Wave Hub Research Expertise Showcased To Regional Businesses The research team behind the Wave Hub will be showcasing its world-class expertise at a regional business event hosted by the University of Plymouth. The Peninsula Research Institute for Marine Renewable Energy is driving forward the southwest’s position as a leader in marine renewables and this conference will offer businesses the opportunity to find out how they can be part of this exciting agenda. ‘SEA opportunities for enterprise’ will enable businesses with an interest in the sector to find out more about PRIMaRE and its research areas; hear more about the latest Wave Hub developments; meet the experts and discuss business opportunities. Professor Julian Wolfram, Chair of PRIMaRE says; “This is an important event, which will showcase PRIMaRE research that is supporting growth and opportunity in marine renewables and connecting with regional enterprise. “We are at the forefront of research in this hugely important emerging technology and regional businesses have the opportunity to avail themselves of this world-class expertise that is quite literally on their doorsteps.” Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Convergence programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, added: “PRIMaRE represents an exciting opportunity for us and the tie ins with businesses will be very important for its success and for our economy.” Up to 150 guests are expected to attend the conference which will also include presentations from RegenSW, the South West Regional Development Agency and local businesses which are already collaborating with PRIMaRE. PRIMaRE is a partnership between the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth which was set up in 2007 to undertake the research needed to support the Wave Hub project and has since received a £10 million government grant to further grow its expertise and establish itself as a world-leading authority on marine renewable technology. PRIMaRE is also receiving ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) Convergence and Competitiveness investment. 17 September 2009 Impact of renewable energy on our oceans must be investigated, say scientists Scientists from the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth are today calling for urgent research to understand the impact of renewable energy developments on marine life. The study, now published in the Journal of Applied Ecology , highlights potential environmental benefits and threats resulting from marine renewable energy, such as off-shore wind farms and wave and tidal energy conversion devices. The research highlights the capacity for marine renewable energy devices to boost local biodiversity and benefit the wider marine environment. Man-made structures on the sea bed attract many marine organisms and sometimes become ‘artificial reefs’, for example, supporting a wide variety of fish. The study also points out that such devices could have negative environmental impacts, resulting from habitat loss, collision risks, noise and electromagnetic fields. The study highlights the gaps in our understanding of the effects of marine renewable energy devices on the health of our oceans. The team calls for more research to improve our understanding of these threats and opportunities. The researchers also stress the importance of considering the impact on marine life when selecting locations for the installation of marine energy devices. Corresponding author Dr Brendan Godley of the University of Exeter said: “Marine renewable energy is hugely exciting and it is vital that we explore the potential for it to provide a clean and sustainable energy source. However, to date research into the impact of marine renewable energy on sea life has been very limited. . Our study highlights the urgent need for more research into the impacts of marine renewable energy on marine life. This will involve biologists, engineers and policy-makers working together to ensure we really understand the risks and opportunities for marine life.” Professor Martin Attrill, Director of the University of Plymouth Marine Institute said: "Our paper highlights the need to take a fresh look at the effect marine renewable energy generation has on the environment if we are to deliver a higher proportion of energy from renewable sources and start to combat climate change. We need to have the industry working directly with conservation bodies to plan the next phase of development. We suggest further research could demonstrate the potential of security zones around, for example, wave farms to act as Marine Protected Areas. Therefore, if all stakeholders can work together in a coordinated way we can possibly address two key issues - combating climate change and creating a network of MPAs. We need the research on environmental impact to help move the whole field forward." This study was carried out by PRIMaRE (the Peninsula Research Institute for Marine Renewable Energy), a joint £15 million institute for research into harnessing the energy from the sea bringing together the technology and marine expertise of the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth. September 2009 Tremough graduate earns energy accolade A recent University of Exeter graduate from the Tremough Campus has been awarded a national prize for his thesis on marine renewable energy. Charles Pearce, who graduated with a First Class (Honours) BSc in Renewable Energy in July 2008, was awarded the Undergraduate prize in the COWRIE Graduate and Postgraduate Awards for Environmental Research into Marine Renewable Energy. For his award-winning thesis, Charles produced a report on a wave energy converter software module for the Simulating Waves Nearshore (SWAN) wave modeling package. Originally from Jersey, Charles (22) has now relocated to Bristol to start a job as a wind analyst forRWENPower Renewables. Charles said: "I was delighted to find out that my thesis, which was based on increasing the accuracy of a simulation used to model the impact of wave energy converters deployment, had been selected as the winner of the 2009 COWRIE student awards. I really enjoyed working on this project as it allowed me to develop my understanding of wave energy technology and at the same time provide an original contribution to the industry. I would like to thank the COWRIE group for selecting my project for the award and for the team at the University of Exeter for all the support throughout the course of this project and my studies." Dean Millar, Charles’ tutor and Head of Renewable Energy at the University of Exeter said: “Charles was a brilliant student and it’s great that his skill has been recognised more widely through this award. Charles’ work has fed directly into the groundbreaking research we are carrying out through PRIMaRE (the Peninsula Research Institute for Marine Renewable Energy), our joint institute for research into marine renewable energy with the University of Plymouth.” Speaking on behalf of the COWRIE Education & Communications group and Board, Dr Carolyn Heeps commented: "The Cowrie Student Award scheme once again attracted submissions of a very high quality. We wish both students well in their future careers within the offshore renewables industry. Recent years have seen a significant increase in the number of students attracted to such courses to pursue careers in the offshore renewables industry. This is an exciting time for students as the growth in the industry through Round 3 and future wave and tidal deployment will provide many varied opportunities for career development". Thursday 27 August 2009 Wave Hub seeks general manager Applications are being invited for one of the most exciting jobs in the renewable energy industry – general manager of the pioneering Wave Hub project. The South West RDA (Regional Development Agency), which is developing Wave Hub off the north coast of Cornwall in South West England, is inviting applications via a dedicated website, http://www.wavehubjobs.co.uk/ The post will be based in West Cornwall and the closing date for applications is September 18. Wave Hub is a cornerstone of the RDA’s strategy to develop a world class marine energy industry in the South West. It comprises a giant grid-connected socket on the seabed for wave energy devices to be tested on a scale not seen before. Directly linked to the Wave Hub, Peninsula Research Institute for Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE), aims to support wave energy device developers and the marine renewable energy community. The £42 million project is fully funded, has planning approval and has already placed its first equipment orders. It will be built next summer. Nick Harrington, head of marine energy at the South West RDA, said: “This is an exciting and challenging role because Wave Hub is a world-first. The ideal candidate will have a strong engineering background and will combine technical expertise with general management and communications skills. Above all they will have the appetite to blaze a trail in a fledgling industry and find ways of doing things that have never been done before.” The general manager will be responsible for leading all aspects of the project including the safe and efficient operation of Wave Hub and the recruitment of three staff who will comprise the Wave Hub operations team. Wave Hub is being funded with £12.5 million from the South West RDA, £20 million from the European Regional Development Fund and £9.5 million from the UK government. The South West was designated the UK’s first Low Carbon Economic Area because of its strength in marine energy in July, attracting a further £10 million of UK government investment for projects that will support the industry. With government, RDA and European funding, the total investment in the South West’s marine energy programme in the next two years is expected to top £100 million, putting the region at the forefront of this emerging global industry. Wednesday 15 July 2009 South West named global leader for marine energy – major role for PRIMaRE The South West of England will become a world centre for wave and tidal energy under plans published by the UK Government today. The region has been designated as the UK’s first Low Carbon Economic Area because of its strength in marine energy. The UK Government will make £19.5 million available as part of a £100 million two-year investment programme in marine renewables being led by the South West RDA (Regional Development Agency). The Government investment includes £9.5 million for the RDA’s pioneering Wave Hub project, which received the official go-ahead from the South West RDA today and could create more than 1,800 jobs in the UK. A further £10 million has been made available for the RDA to support other marine energy projects in the South West. The ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) Convergence Programme also announced today that it will invest £20 million in Wave Hub, which will be commissioned next summer. The first equipment orders have been placed this week. Lord Mandelson, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, named the South West as the UK’s first Low Carbon Economic Area at the launch of the Government’s Low Carbon Industrial Strategy in London today. The South West’s marine energy industry is supported by the £15 million Peninsula Research Institute for Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE), set up two years ago by the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth with funding from the South West RDA and Europe. It offers world-leading expertise at the cutting edge of the industry and already boasts 15 world-class academic staff, 60 researchers and a dedicated technology transfer team that works with businesses to support high quality job creation. Stephen Peacock, Enterprise and Innovation Executive Director at the South West RDA said: “This is about a new industry and new jobs, and the South West’s critical role in building a greener global economy. Being identified as the UK’s first Low Carbon Economic Area is a tremendous accolade and recognition of our commitment to develop this unprecedented economic opportunity. We want to forge a new industry from the seas around our shores and today’s announcements cement our position as a global leader in wave and tidal technologies. “We also welcome the Low Carbon Industrial Strategy which sets out a range of opportunities to ensure that we take advantage of a global market for low carbon products and services that could be worth £4.3 trillion by 2015.” The announcements mark a significant milestone in the Wave Hub project, a giant grid-connected socket on the seabed off the coast of Cornwall for wave energy devices to be tested on a scale not seen before. Thursday 2 July 2009 South West receives £10.3m funding for marine energy research An exciting marine renewable energy project in which the University of Plymouth is a partner has received £10.3m in research funding announced today, Thursday 2 July. The announcement is a major boost for the South West’s ambition to be a global centre for harnessing energy from the sea. Thursday 2 July 2009 BBC News Link - Wave Energy gets cash injection Wave energy researchers in Devon and Cornwall have been given a £10m cash injection from the government. The money will allow the Peninsula Research Institute for Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE) at Plymouth and Exeter Universities to take on more staff. Peninsula Research Institute for Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE) Prof Andrew Chadwick welcomes New Staff The Marine Institute welcomes 15 new staff RDA backs world-class institute for marine energy research
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The Sunday Telegraph - The Power Renewable Energy
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Public lecture showcases latest marine renewable energy research
Cornwall scientists speed up marine renewable testing
The bulk of the investment - £5.3m - has come from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Convergence Programme in Cornwall.
The Peninsula Research Institute for Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE), set up two years ago by the Universities of Plymouth and Exeter with funding from the South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA), will use the cash to support its team of world-class academics and researchers, buy new equipment and collaborate with business.
Match funding comes from SWRDA (£4.3m), the University of Plymouth (£200,000k) and the University of Exeter (£466,000k) and there is further investment from the ERDF Competiveness Programme in the rest of the South West.
The funding will support PRIMaRE’s 15 world-class academic staff, 60 researchers and a dedicated technology transfer team that works with businesses to support high-quality job creation across the South West.
There will be substantial investment in new equipment, including wave and tidal measuring devices, wave-making facilities, subsea electrical equipment, collision avoidance and monitoring equipment, and research into the environmental impact and benefits of marine renewable energy.
PRIMaRE will support and complement SWRDA’s pioneering Wave Hub project, which will create the world’s largest wave energy farm ten miles off the Cornish coast and is on course to be built next year.
Professor Wendy Purcell, University of Plymouth Chief Executive and Vice-Chancellor, said: “This new funding recognises the very substantial expertise in marine energy, research, development and innovation now present in the South West and provides additional support for engaging business with world-class research for the benefit of our region and the wider environment. In partnership with the University of Exeter, we will generate important new marine knowledge to inform the emerging renewable energy sector, positioning the region at the forefront of marine science and technology expertise.”
Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Convergence Partnership Office for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: “Climate change presents many challenges but there are also great opportunities for new low carbon goods, services and energy production. It is only through investment in top quality scientific research and knowledge transfer to businesses that we will successfully tap these new markets. This ERDF Convergence investment will stimulate the creation of a whole new industry and related business opportunities.”
Stephen Peacock, SWRDA’s Enterprise and Innovation Director, said: “PRIMaRE and Wave Hub are central planks in the RDA’s drive towards a low carbon economy in South West England. We want our region to be one of the best places in the world to build a low carbon business and a global leader in the development of environmental and renewable energy technologies.”
